When people think of graffiti, they often picture bustling cities filled with tags, throwies, and wildstyle pieces covering walls, trains, and rooftops. But what happens if you live in a small town with no visible graffiti scene? Do you just give up on learning graffiti? The truth is, graffiti finds its way into every corner of the world, even in places you’d never expect. On a recent trip to the Poconos, I set out to explore what graffiti looks like in smaller towns, and what I found proves that graffiti is everywhere, no matter how remote.

Small Town Graffiti: Raw, Unrefined, and Experimental

One of the first things I noticed in these small towns was how different the graffiti looked compared to bigger cities. Writers here are still experimenting with their handstyles and figuring out their names. Take the RIZ handstyle I came across: the “R” was solid, but the connection to the “I” caused structural issues that made the tag look off. Then, when the “Z” stretched back into the “R”, it turned the whole thing into something that looked more like a “B.” This is a perfect example of how letter positioning and spacing can make or break a tag.

And that’s what makes small-town graffiti so fascinating: it’s raw, it’s unpolished, and it shows writers in the process of finding their voice. Every tag tells the story of someone learning, testing new ideas, and slowly building their skills. Unlike big cities, writers here don’t have the luxury of seeing hundreds of tags from other people that can help give them ideas. Sure, they have access to the internet where they can find tags, but they’re not inundated with hand styles all day.

Practicing Graffiti in DL Spots

While exploring, I came across a perfect DL spot (down low spot) under a train overpass. For graffiti writers, DL spots are essential practice grounds, hidden areas where you can work on handstyles, throwies, and pieces without the pressure of high-traffic visibility.

What stood out about this spot was how it captured the ethics of graffiti. In these areas, beef isn’t usually an issue. Writers expect their work to get painted over. A throwie might get covered by a handstyle, and a biece might get covered by a tag. It’s understood that these walls exist for practice, not permanence. Now to be clear this may not be the case on every DL spot, you’ll want to feel out the wall before you assume you can paint anything over anything else. My advice? Go to the DL spot expecting to follow the rules, then, once you confirm that the spot doesn’t really follow the hierarchy of graffiti (pieces over throwies, throwies over tags), then you can paint as you’d like.

Even in a small town with no visible graffiti scene, DL spots like this prove that graffiti always has a home. They give beginners a place to experiment while also attracting more experienced writers who come to test new ideas or refine their throwies.

The Blend of New Writers and Experienced Artists

Another thing that surprised me was how these walls showcased both toys (new graffiti writers) and more seasoned artists. I saw tags and throwies from newer writers who were clearly just starting out, but right next to them were clean, quality handstyles. Even in the middle of nowhere, you can see the full range of graffiti, from shaky beginner tags to polished works from established writers. And when you really think about it, this mirrors how graffiti began. In the late 60s and early 70s in New York, there was no established graffiti scene. Writers created it themselves. The same thing happens everywhere; scenes start small, and they grow when people take the initiative to keep writing their names.

The Lessons Small Town Graffiti Teaches

Exploring small-town graffiti reinforced a few important lessons for graffiti writers:

Graffiti is everywhere. Even in the smallest towns, someone is writing.
DL spots are crucial. These hidden walls are where style gets built.
Beef doesn’t belong in practice spots. The culture can shift in DL areas, and the focus is on experimentation, not ownership. Be sure to learn how the ethics and rules function at any DL spots you got to because not all are treated the same way.
Every tag is progress. Whether you’re a beginner or experienced, every line you paint gets you closer to mastering your style. This makes DL spots in small towns even more important as you have a low-risk place to practice more frequently.
You can build a scene. “Not having a graffiti scene” isn’t an excuse to not start; you can create one by starting with your own tag.

Graffiti Is About Starting the Movement

At the end of the day, graffiti is about initiative. If you feel like there’s no graffiti scene where you live, remember that the earliest writers in New York didn’t have one either. They started by writing their names, and from there, a worldwide culture was born.

So whether you’re in a big city or a small town in the middle of nowhere, graffiti is there waiting for you. All it takes is you, a wall, and the desire to start writing.

Final Thoughts

If you're unsure where to start or how to avoid common mistakes, check out our graffiti fundamentals book available online; it’s packed with real lessons and photos to guide your development as an artist.

Grab a digital copy here: Ultimate Graffiti Guide Book Part 1: Fundamentals

Secret Graffiti Spots: How Writers Practice in Small Towns